Sabre Corporation 2024 Director Equity Compensation Plan

Contract Categories: Human Resources - Compensation Agreements
EX-10.2 4 d799261dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

SABRE CORPORATION

2024 DIRECTOR EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

1. Purpose of the Plan.

 

This Sabre Corporation 2024 Director Equity Compensation Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Company and its stockholders by providing certain compensation to eligible directors of the Company and to encourage the highest level of director performance by providing such directors with a proprietary interest in the Company’s success and progress by granting them awards hereunder.

2. Definitions.

 

As used in the Plan or in any instrument governing the terms of any Award, the following definitions apply to the terms indicated below:

(a) “Affiliate” means the Company and any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries.

(b) “Affiliated Entity” means any entity related to the Company as a member of a controlled group of corporations in accordance with Section 414(b) of the Code or as a trade or business under common control in accordance with Section 414(c) of the Code, for so long as such entity is so related, including without limitation any Affiliate.

(c) “Awards” mean all awards granted pursuant to the terms of the Plan including, but not limited to, Cash Awards, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards.

(d) “Award Agreement” means the written agreement, in a form determined by the Committee or its delegee from time to time, between the Company and a Participant that evidences the grant of an Award and sets out the terms and conditions of an Award.

(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of Sabre Corporation.

(f) “Cash Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

(g) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to any Person or group of related persons for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (a “Group”), together with any Affiliates thereof; (ii) the approval by the holders of the outstanding voting power of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (iii) any Person or Group(other than any employee benefit plan sponsored by Sabre Corporation) shall become the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of Common Stock representing more than 40% of the aggregate outstanding voting power of the Company and such Person or Group actually has the power to vote such

Common Stock in any such election; (iv) the replacement of a majority of the Board over a two-year period from the directors who constituted the Board at the beginning of such period, and such replacement shall not have been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Board then still in office who either were members of such Board at the beginning of such period or (v) consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with another entity in which the holders of the Common Stock of the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction hold, directly or indirectly, immediately following the consummation of the transaction, less than 50% of the common equity interests in the surviving corporation in such transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award that is characterized as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under the Plan for purposes of any payment in respect of such Award unless such event is also a “change in ownership,” “change in effective control” or “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and all regulations, interpretations, and administrative guidance issued thereunder.

(i) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee as the Board shall appoint from time to time to administer the Plan and to otherwise exercise and perform the authority and functions assigned to the Committee under the terms of the Plan.

(j) “Common Stock” means Sabre Corporation Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, or any other security into which the common stock shall be changed pursuant to the adjustment provisions of Section 10 of the Plan.

(k) “Company” means Sabre Corporation and all of its Subsidiaries, collectively. For purposes of the Plan, the “Company” shall include any successor to the Company, subject to applicable law.

(l) “Director Deferred Compensation Plan” means any plan, agreement or arrangement maintained by the Company from time to time that is established or maintained under this Plan and that provides opportunities for deferral of compensation.

(m) “Effective Date” means the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders.

(n) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(o) “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to a share of Common Stock, as of the applicable date of determination (i) closing price of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant as reported on the principal securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are then listed or admitted to trading or (ii) if not so reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices on the date of grant as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market. In the event that the price of a share of Common Stock shall not be so reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion taking into account the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(p) “Grant Date” means the date designated by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement as the date the Award is granted.

(q) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(r) “Option” means a stock option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.

(s) “Other Stock-Based Award” means an award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.

(t) “Participant” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who is eligible to participate in the Plan and to whom one or more Awards have been granted and, following the death of any such Person, his successors, heirs, executors, and administrators, as the case may be.

(u) “Person” means a “person” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, including any “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

(v) “Plan” means this Sabre Corporation 2024 Director Equity Compensation Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

(w) “Prior Plans” means the Sabre Corporation 2022 Director Equity Compensation Plan and the Sabre Corporation 2019 Director Equity Compensation Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

(x) “Sabre Corporation” means Sabre Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

(y) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(z) “Subsidiary” means any “subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

3. Stock Subject to the Plan, Share Counting Rules, and Individual Award Limits.

 

(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10 and the provisions of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be covered by Awards granted under the Plan shall be the sum of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock and (ii) the number of shares remaining available for issuance under the Prior Plans that are not the subject of outstanding Awards as of the Effective Date and (iii) any shares subject to outstanding Awards under the Prior Plans as of the Effective Date that become available for issuance in accordance with the share counting provisions of such Prior Plans. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, or both, in the sole discretion of the Committee.

(b) For purposes of the preceding paragraph, shares of Common Stock covered by Awards shall only be counted as used or issued to the extent they are actually issued and delivered to a Participant (or such Participant’s permitted transferees as described in the Plan) pursuant to the Plan; provided, however, that if the exercise price or tax withholding requirements related to any Award granted under the Plans is satisfied through the withholding by the Company of shares of Common Stock that are otherwise then deliverable in respect of such Award or through actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock already owned, the number of shares of Common Stock withheld or transferred, will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance or transfer under the Plan. Furthermore, any shares of Common Stock received by a Participant in connection with an exercise of Options that are subsequently repurchased by the Company will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance or

transfer under the Plan. However, if all or any portion of an Award issued pursuant to the Plan expires, or is forfeited, terminated or cancelled, without the issuance of shares of Common Stock, or is exchanged with the Committee’s permission, prior to the issuance of shares of Common Stock, for an Award not involving shares of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards that have been so forfeited, terminated, cancelled, or have expired, as the case may be, will again be available for issuance or transfer under the Plan. In addition, because shares of Common Stock will count against the number reserved in Section 3(a) upon delivery, and subject to the share counting rules under this Section 3(b), the Committee may determine that Awards may be outstanding that relate to a greater number of shares of Common Stock than the aggregate remaining available under the Plan, so long as Awards will not result in delivery and vesting of shares of Common Stock in excess of the number then available under the Plan.

(c) Shares of Common Stock covered by Awards granted pursuant to the Plan in connection with the assumption, replacement, conversion, or adjustment of outstanding equity-based awards in the context of a corporate acquisition or merger (within the meaning of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635) as provided in Section 10 of the Plan shall not count as used under the Plan for purposes of Section 3.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10:

(i) except as provided in Section 2(d)(ii) below, the aggregate value of Options and Other Stock-Based Awards granted to any Participant in a single fiscal year of the Company, solely with respect to his or her service as a non-employee director on the Board, may not exceed $500,000, determined based on the aggregate Fair Market Value of such Awards as of the Grant Date;

(ii) the aggregate values of Options and Other-Stock-Based Awards granted to any Participant in connection with his or her initial appointment as a non-employee director on the Board may not exceed $600,000, determined based on the aggregate Fair Market Value of such Options and Other Stock-Based Awards as of the Grant Date, which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be in addition to any Awards granted to such Participant under Sections 2(d)(i) and 2(d)(iii) of the Plan; and

(iii) the amount payable with respect to any Cash Award granted under the Plan to any Participant in a single fiscal year of the Company, solely with respect to his or her service as a non-employee director on the Board, may not exceed $500,000.

4. Administration of the Plan.

 

(a) The Committee

The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a Committee of the Board consisting of two or more persons, each of whom may, from time to time, qualify as a “non-employee director” (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) and as “independent” within the meaning of any applicable stock exchange or similar regulatory authority on which the Common Stock is then listed, in each case if and to the extent required by applicable law.

(b) Grant of Awards

(i) The Committee shall, consistent with the terms of the Plan, from time to time designate those individuals who shall be granted Awards under the Plan and the amount, type, and other terms and

conditions of such Awards, which need not be identical for each Participant. The Committee shall have full discretionary authority to administer the Plan, including discretionary authority to interpret and construe any and all provisions of the Plan and the terms of any Award (and any Award Agreement) granted thereunder and to adopt, amend and rescind from time to time such rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate. Decisions of the Committee shall be final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.

(ii) Awards granted under the Plan may, in the Committee’s discretion, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award, any award granted under another plan of the Company or any business entity to be acquired by the Company, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards may be granted either as of the same time as, or a different time from, the grant of such other Awards or awards.

(iii) On or after the Grant Date of an Award under the Plan, the Committee may (i) accelerate the date on which any such Award becomes vested, exercisable or transferable, as the case may be, (ii) extend the term of any such Award, including, without limitation, extending the period following a termination of a Participant’s provision of services during which any such Award may remain outstanding, (iii) waive any conditions to the vesting, exercisability, or transferability, as the case may be, of any such Award, (iv) grant other Awards in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any Award, any award granted under another plan of the Company or any business entity to be acquired by the Company, or (v) provide for the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to any such Award , provided that in the case of this (v), no dividend equivalents shall be paid on any Award until such time as the underlying Award has vested, and any dividends payable in respect of Awards of restricted stock shall not vest unless and until the restricted stock awards to which such dividends relate have also vested; provided further, in each of (i) through (v) that the Committee shall not have any such authority and shall not take any such action to the extent that the grant of such authority or the taking of such action would cause any tax to become due under Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, the Company shall not reprice any stock option (within the meaning of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c) and any other formal or informal guidance issued by the NASDAQ), which for this purpose also means any of the following or any other action that has the same effect: (i) lowering the exercise price of an Option or stock appreciation right after it is granted, (ii) any other action that is treated as a repricing under United States generally accepted accounting principles, or (iii) canceling an Option or stock appreciation right at a time when its exercise price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock, in exchange for another Option or stock appreciation right, shares of restricted Common Stock, other Awards, cash or other property; provided, however, that the foregoing transactions shall not be deemed a repricing if pursuant to an adjustment or other action authorized under Section 10.

(iv) The Committee may grant dividend equivalents to any Participant based on the dividends declared on shares of Common Stock that are subject to any Award during the period between the Grant Date and the date the Award is exercised, vests, pays out, or expires. Such dividend equivalents may be awarded or paid in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, restricted stock, or restricted stock units, or a combination, and shall be determined by such formula and at such time and subject to such accrual, forfeiture, or payout restrictions or limitations as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(v) In addition, the Committee may permit a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be due to such

Participant in connection with any Award. If any such deferral is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures, in accordance with Section 409A of the Code (to the extent applicable), for such payment or Common Stock delivery deferrals and any notional earnings to be credited on such deferred amounts.

(c) Delegation of Authority

(i) All of the powers and responsibilities of the Committee under the Plan may be delegated by the Committee in its discretion and in accordance with applicable law, in writing, to any subcommittee thereof, or to any other individual as it deems to be advisable, under any conditions and subject to any limitations that the Committee may establish.

(ii) In addition, the Committee may delegate the administration of the Plan to one or more officers or employees of the Company, and such administrator(s) may have the authority to prepare, execute and distribute Award Agreements or other documents evidencing or relating to Awards granted by the Committee under this Plan, to maintain records relating to Awards, to process or oversee the issuance of Common Stock under Awards, to interpret and administer the terms of Awards, and to take such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan and of Awards under the Plan, provided that in no case shall any such administrator be authorized (i) to grant Awards under the Plan, (ii) to take any action inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code or (iii) to take any action inconsistent with Sections 152 or 157 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (to the extent applicable) and other applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Any action by any such administrator within the scope of its delegation shall be deemed for all purposes to have been taken by the Committee and, except as otherwise specifically provided, references in this Plan to the Committee shall include any such administrator. The Committee and, to the extent it so provides, any subcommittee, shall have sole authority to determine whether to review any actions and/or interpretations of any such administrator, and if the Committee shall decide to conduct such a review, any such actions and/or interpretations of any such administrator shall be subject to approval, disapproval, or modification by the Committee.

(d) Payments by the Company and Registration of Common Stock

(i) The Company shall pay any amount payable with respect to an Award in accordance with the terms of such Award, provided that the Committee may, in its discretion, defer the payment of amounts payable with respect to an Award subject to and in accordance with the terms of any Director Deferred Compensation Plan, to the extent such Director Deferred Compensation Plan permits deferral of Awards granted hereunder. Payments to be made by the Company upon the exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Common Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis. The settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Common Stock in connection with such settlement, in the Committee’s discretion or upon occurrence of one or more specified events; provided that, with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, such acceleration or payment shall comply with Section 409A of the Code.

(ii) Sabre Corporation shall be under no obligation to effect the registration pursuant to the Securities Act of any shares of Common Stock to be issued hereunder or to effect similar compliance under any state laws. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Sabre Corporation shall not be obligated to cause to be issued or delivered any certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan unless

and until Sabre Corporation is advised by its counsel that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authority and the requirements of any securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are traded.

(iii) Furthermore, the Company may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the issuance or delivery of Common Stock or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such Common Stock or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other required action with respect to any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Common Stock or other securities of the Company are listed or quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such other conditions (including that the certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock bear such legends) as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Common Stock or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations; provided that the Committee shall take no action to the extent that the taking of such action would cause any tax to become due under Section 409A of the Code. The foregoing notwithstanding, in connection with a Change in Control, the Company shall take or cause to be taken no action, and shall undertake or permit to arise no legal or contractual obligation, that results or would result in any postponement of the issuance or delivery of Common Stock or payment of benefits under any Award or the imposition of any other conditions on such issuance, delivery, or payment, to the extent that such postponement or other condition would represent a greater burden on a Participant than existed on the 90th day preceding the Change in Control.

(e) Limitation on Liability

(i) The Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, agents, and other persons, and the Committee, the Company, and its officers, directors, and employees shall be entitled, in good faith, to rely or act upon any advice, opinions, or valuations of any such persons. In addition, the Committee and each member thereof, and any person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee, shall be entitled, in good faith, to rely or act upon any report or other information furnished by any officer, director, or employee of the Company, the Company’s independent auditors, consultants, or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan.

(ii) No member of the Committee, nor any person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee, nor any officer, director, or employee of the Company acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee, shall be liable for any action, omission, or determination relating to the Plan, and Sabre Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee, each person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee, and each other officer, director, or employee of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan has been delegated, against any cost or expense (including counsel fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee) arising out of any action, omission or determination relating to the Plan, unless, in either case, such action, omission, or determination was taken or made by such member, director, employee, or other person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee in bad faith and without reasonable belief that it was in the best interests of the Company.

5. Eligibility.

 

The Persons who shall be eligible to receive Awards pursuant to the Plan shall be those members of the Board who are not also employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the time such Award is granted and whom the Committee shall select from time to time. Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing in form and substance approved by the Committee.

6. Options.

 

The Committee may from time to time grant Options, subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a) Exercise Price

The exercise price per share of Common Stock covered by any Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date. The Award Agreement of each Option shall fix the exercise price and clearly identify such Option as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(b) Term and Exercise of Options

(i) Each Option shall become vested and exercisable on such date or dates, during such period, and for such number of shares of Common Stock as shall be determined by the Committee on or after the date such Option is granted; provided, however, that no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date such Option is granted; and, provided, further, that each Option shall be subject to earlier termination, expiration, or cancellation as provided in the Plan or in the relevant Award Agreement.

(ii) Each Option may be exercised in whole or in part. The partial exercise of an Option shall not cause the expiration, termination, or cancellation of the remaining portion thereof.

(iii) An Option shall be exercised by such methods and procedures as the Committee determines from time to time, including, without limitation, through net physical settlement;

(iv) Options may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of a Participant, only by the Participant; provided, however, that the Committee may permit Non-Qualified Stock Options to be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of, on a general or specific basis, subject to such conditions and limitations as the Committee may determine. In addition, the Committee may impose such restrictions on any shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares are then listed and/or traded, or under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such shares.

(v) Options granted under the Plan are intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code.

7. Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

The Committee may from time to time grant equity, equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described herein in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall

determine. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, each such Other Stock-Based Award may (i) involve the transfer of actual shares of Common Stock to Participants, either at the time of grant or thereafter, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Common Stock, (ii) be subject to performance-based and/or service-based conditions, (iii) be in the form of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, deferred share units, or share-denominated performance units, and (iv) be designed to comply with applicable laws of jurisdictions other than the United States; provided, that each Other Stock-Based Award shall be denominated in, or shall have a value determined by reference to, a number of shares of Common Stock that is specified at the time of the grant of such award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any such Other Stock-Based Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement of such Other Stock-Based Award shall contain terms and conditions (including, without limitation and to the extent applicable, deferral and payment provisions) that comply with Section 409A of the Code.

8. Cash Awards.

 

The Committee may grant to any Participant Cash Awards that are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. Cash Awards granted under the Plan may be settled in cash or in other property, including shares of Common Stock, provided that the term “Cash Award” shall exclude any Option or Other Stock-Based Award. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein is intended to limit or shall limit the Company’s ability to pay cash-based compensation, such as a cash retainer, that is not subject to the Plan.

9. Effect of Termination of Services.

 

Each Award Agreement shall set forth the effect of the Participant’s termination of services as a director on any outstanding Awards. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Awards issued, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for the termination.

10. Adjustment Upon Certain Changes.

 

(a) Shares Available for Grants

In the event of any change in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares, or similar corporate change, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Committee may grant Awards in any year, and the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Committee may grant Awards to any individual Participant in any year, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee. In the event of any change in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding by reason of any other similar event or transaction, the Committee shall, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted.

(b) Increase or Decrease in Issued Shares Without Consideration

In the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a stock dividend (but only on

the shares of Common Stock), or any other increase or decrease in the number of such shares effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company, the Committee shall, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, appropriately adjust the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price per share of Common Stock of each such Award.

(c) Certain Mergers

In the event that any merger, consolidation or similar transaction as a result of which the holders of shares of Common Stock receive consideration consisting exclusively of securities of the surviving corporation in such transaction, the Committee shall, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, adjust each Award outstanding on the date of such merger or consolidation so that it pertains and applies to the securities which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award would have received in such merger or consolidation.

(d) Certain Other Transactions

In the event of (i) a dissolution or liquidation of Sabre Corporation, (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (on a consolidated basis), (iii) a merger, consolidation, or similar transaction involving Sabre Corporation in which Sabre Corporation is not the surviving corporation, or (iv) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving Sabre Corporation in the holders of shares of Common Stock receive securities of another corporation and/or other property, including cash, other than shares of the surviving corporation in such transaction, the Committee shall, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, but subject to Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable, have the power to:

(i) cancel, effective immediately prior to the occurrence of such event, each Award (whether or not then exercisable), and, in full consideration of such cancellation, pay to the Participant to whom such Award was granted an amount in cash, for each share of Common Stock subject to such Award, equal to the value, as determined by the Committee in its reasonable discretion, of such Award, provided that with respect to any outstanding Option such value shall be equal to the excess of (A) the value, as determined by the Committee in its reasonable discretion, of the property (including cash) received by the holder of a share of Common Stock as a result of such event over (B) the exercise price of such Option; and

(ii) provide for the exchange of each Award (whether or not then exercisable or vested) for an Award with respect to (A) some or all of the property which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award would have received in such transaction or (B) securities of the acquiror or surviving entity and, incident thereto, make an equitable adjustment as determined by the Committee in the exercise price of the Award, or the number of shares or amount of property subject to the Award or provide for a payment (in cash or other property) to the Participant to whom such Award was granted in partial consideration for the exchange of the Award.

(e) Other Changes

In the event of any change in the capitalization of Sabre Corporation or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), or (d), including, without limitation, an extraordinary cash dividend, the Committee shall, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in such other terms of such Awards as the Committee may consider appropriate.

(f) Cash Awards

In the event of any transaction or event described in this Section 10, including without limitation any corporate change referred to in paragraph (e) hereof, the Committee may, as the Committee may consider appropriate in respect of such transaction or event, make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of any Cash Awards.

(g) No Other Rights

Except as expressly provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend or dividend equivalents, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class, or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of Sabre Corporation or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no issuance by Sabre Corporation of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares or amount of other property subject to, or the terms related to, any Award.

(h) Savings Clause

No provision of this Section 10 shall be given effect to the extent that such provision (i) would cause any tax to become due under Section 409A of the Code or (ii) would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

11. Change in Control

 

Except as otherwise set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement, in the event (a) a Participant’s service on the Board terminates in connection with a Change in Control of the Company or (b) of a Change in Control in which outstanding Awards are not assumed, continued, or substituted by the surviving corporation:

(i) All deferral of settlement, forfeiture conditions and other restrictions applicable to Awards granted under the Plan shall lapse and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change in Control without regard to deferral and vesting conditions; and

(ii) Any Award carrying a right to exercise that was not previously exercisable and vested shall become fully exercisable and vested as of the time of the Change in Control.

12. Rights under the Plan.

 

(a) No person shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by or relating to any Award granted pursuant to the Plan until the date of the issuance of such shares on the books and records of Sabre Corporation. Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 10 hereof, no adjustment of any Award shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date occurs prior to the date such stock certificate is issued. Nothing in this Section 12 is intended, or should be construed, to limit authority of the Committee to cause the Company to make payments based on the dividends that would be payable with respect to any share of Common Stock if it were issued or outstanding, or to grant rights related to such dividends.

(b) Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or, (b) limit the right or power of the Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate. Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the grant of any Award shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board of Directors or Committee to adopt such other compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable for any Participant.

(c) The Company shall not have any obligation to establish any separate fund or trust or other segregation of assets to provide for payments under the Plan. To the extent any person acquires any rights to receive payments hereunder from the Company, such rights shall be no greater than those of an unsecured creditor. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other person. The Plan is not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

13. No Right to Continued Services; No Right to Award.

 

(a) Nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his service to the Company or interfere in any way with the right of the Company at any time to terminate such service or to increase or decrease the compensation of the Participant from the rate in existence at the time of the grant of an Award.

(b) No person shall have any claim or right to receive an Award hereunder. The Committee’s granting of an Award to a Participant at any time shall neither require the Committee to grant an Award to such Participant or any other Participant or other person at any time nor preclude the Committee from making subsequent grants to such Participant or any other Participant or other person.

14. Tax Provisions & Withholding.

 

(a) Cash Remittance

Whenever shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of an Option or the grant or vesting of an Award, and whenever any amount shall become payable in respect of any Award, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements, if any, attributable to such exercise, grant, vesting, or payment prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such shares or the effectiveness of the lapse of such restrictions or making of such payment. In addition, upon the exercise or settlement of any Award in cash, or any payment with respect to any Award, the Company shall have the right to withhold from any payment required to be made pursuant thereto an amount sufficient to satisfy the federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements, if any, attributable to such exercise, settlement, or payment. The Company can delay the delivery to a Participant of any Common Stock or cash payable to such Participant to determine the amount of withholding to be collected and to collect and process such withholding.

(b) Stock Remittance

At the election of the Participant, subject to the approval of the Committee, when shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise, grant, or vesting of an Award, the Participant may tender to

Sabre Corporation a number of shares of Common Stock that have been owned by the Participant for at least six months (or such other period as the Committee may determine) having a Fair Market Value at the tender date determined by the Committee to be sufficient to satisfy the federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements, if any, attributable to such exercise, grant, or vesting but not greater than such withholding obligations. Such election (i) shall be irrevocable, made in writing, and signed by the Participant, (ii) shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, and (iii) shall satisfy the Participant’s obligations under this Section 14, if any. The Company can delay the delivery to a Participant of any Common Stock or cash payable to such Participant to determine the amount of withholding to be collected and to collect and process such withholding.

(c) Stock Withholding

At the election of the Participant, subject to the approval of the Committee, when shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise, grant, or vesting of an Award, the Company shall withhold a number of such shares having a Fair Market Value at the exercise date determined by the Committee to be sufficient to satisfy the federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements, if any, attributable to such exercise, grant, or vesting but not greater than such withholding obligations. Such election (i) shall be irrevocable, made in writing, and signed by the Participant, (ii) shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, and (iii) shall satisfy the Participant’s obligations under this Section 14, if any. The Company can delay the delivery to a Participant of any Common Stock or cash payable to such Participant to determine the amount of withholding to be collected and to collect and process such withholding.

(d) Consent to and Notification of Section 83(b) Election

No election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code) or under a similar provision of the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the Award Agreement or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the making of such election. In any case in which a Participant is permitted to make such an election in connection with an Award, the Participant shall notify the Company of such election within ten days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Section 83(b) of the Code or other applicable provision.

15. Amendment or Termination of the Plan.

 

(a) The Board may at any time suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect whatsoever; provided, however, that to the extent that any applicable law, regulation, or rule of a stock exchange requires stockholder approval in order for any such revision or amendment to be effective, such revision or amendment shall not be effective without such approval. The preceding sentence shall not restrict the Committee’s ability to exercise its discretionary authority hereunder pursuant to Section 4 hereof, which discretion may be exercised without amendment to the Plan; provided that no provision of this Section 15 shall be given effect to the extent that such provision would cause any tax to become due under Section 409A of the Code.

(b) Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no action hereunder may, without the consent of a Participant, materially adversely affect the Participant’s rights under any previously granted and outstanding Award.

(c) Nothing in the Plan shall limit the right of the Company to pay compensation of any kind outside the terms of the Plan.

16. No Obligation to Exercise.

 

The grant to a Participant of an Award shall impose no obligation upon such Participant to exercise such Award.

17. Transfer Restrictions.

 

(a) Upon the death of a Participant, outstanding Awards granted to such Participant may be exercised only by the executors or administrators of the Participant’s estate or by any person or persons who shall have acquired such right to exercise by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. No transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution of any Award, or the right to exercise any Award, shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Committee shall have been furnished with (a) written notice thereof and with a copy of the will and/or such evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and (b) an agreement by the transferee to comply with all the terms and conditions of the Award that are or would have been applicable to the Participant and to be bound by the acknowledgements made by the Participant in connection with the grant of the Award.

(b) Except as provided in the preceding paragraph (regarding transfers upon the death of a Participant) and Section 6 (regarding the transfer of certain Non-Qualified Stock Options), no Award or other right or interest of a Participant under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any party (other than the Company), or assigned or transferred by such Participant, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative, except that Awards and other rights may be transferred to one or more transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and to the extent such transfers are permitted by the Committee, subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon (which may include limitations the Committee may deem appropriate in order that offers and sales under the Plan will meet applicable requirements of registration forms under the Securities Act specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission). A beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award document applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

18. Retirement and Welfare Plans.

 

Neither Awards made under the Plan nor shares of Common Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards will be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under the Company’s retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit or except as the Committee may otherwise determine in its discretion.

19. Certain Limitations on Awards to Ensure Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(a) The Company intends that the Plan and each Award granted hereunder that is subject to Section 409A of the Code shall comply with Section 409A of the Code and that the Plan shall be interpreted, operated and administered accordingly. In the event any term and/or condition of an Award granted hereunder would cause the application of an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such term and/or condition shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Committee, which does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax. Any reservation of rights by the Company hereunder affecting the timing of payment of any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code will only be as broad as is permitted by Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Company be liable for the payment of or gross up in connection with any taxes and or penalties owed by the Participant pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each installment payment provided under the Plan shall be treated as a separate payment.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein or in any Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event that a Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A(2)(B) of the Code) as of the date of such Participant’s termination of services, any Awards subject to Section 409A of the Code payable to such Participant as a result of his or her termination, shall be paid on the first business day of the first calendar month that begins after the six-month anniversary of the date of the Participant’s termination of services, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death.

20. Participants Based Outside of the United States.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company operates or which are applicable to a Participant, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:

(a) Modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to a director if necessary to comply with applicable foreign laws;

(b) Establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable. Any subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 20 by the Committee shall be attached to the Plan document as appendices; and

(c) Take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals.

Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate applicable law.

21. Legend.

 

The certificates or book entry for shares of Common Stock may include any legend or coding, as applicable, which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer of such shares.

22. Severability; Entire Agreement.

 

If any of the provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement is finally held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable (whether in whole or in part), such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability, and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby; provided, that, if any of such provisions is finally held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable because it exceeds the maximum scope determined to be acceptable to permit such provision to be enforceable, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to modify such scope in order to make such provision enforceable hereunder. The Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreements or documents designated by the Committee as setting forth the terms of an Award contain the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof and supersede all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations, and warranties between them, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter thereof.

23. Descriptive Headings.

 

The headings in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of the terms contained herein.

24. Governing Law.

 

The Plan and the rights of all persons under the Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflict of law principles.

25. Clawback.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will be entitled, to the extent permitted or required by applicable law, Company policy, and/or the requirements of an exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock are listed for trading, in each case, as in effect from time to time, to recoup compensation of whatever kind paid by the Company or any of its affiliates at any time to a Participant under the Plan and the Participant, by accepting Awards pursuant to the Plan and any Award Agreement, agrees to comply with any Company request or demand for such recoupment.

26. Effective Date and Term of Plan.

 

The Plan was initially adopted and shall be effective as of the Effective Date. The Plan shall terminate automatically on the ten (10) year anniversary of the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in Section 15, but all Awards made on or prior to such date will continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms thereof and of the Plan.